Starting apparatus for internal-combustion engines.



J. Buun.

STARTING APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-10,1915.

Patented Dec. 26, 1916.

2 suns-sun 1.

' J. BIJUR.

STARTING APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

'APPLlCATlON FILED FEB/10, I915.

- Patented Dec. 26,1916.

- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- P I Q n to s i 1 T i E a I N T T '53 on UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH BIJ'UR, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.. ASSIGNOR TO BLT UR MOTOR LIGHTING COMPANY, OF HOBOKEN. NEW JERSEY. A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

STARTINO APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 26, 1916.

Application filed February 10, 1915. Serial No 7,228.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I. JOSEPH BIJL'R. acitizen of the United States, and residing at- New York, in the county of New York and State of New York. have invented a new and Improved Starting Apparatus for Internal- Combustion Engines. of which the following specification is a full disclosure.

This invention relates to starting apparatus for internal combustion engines.

One of the objects thereof is to provide simple apparatus of the above type in which the parts are quickly and conveniently actuated.

Another object is .to provide apparatus of the above type of compact construction and unlikely to suffer injury under conditions of hard practical use.

Other objects will be in part obvious from the annexed drawings and in part indicated in connection therewith by the following analysis of this invention.

The invention accordingly consists in the various features set forth in the claims. certain of the broader features of my invention not being claimed in the present case as they are elsewhere dealt with.

To enable others skilled in the art so fully to comprehend the underlying features thereof thatthey may embody the same by the numerous modifications in structure and relation contemplated by this invention, drawings depictinga preferred form have been annexed as a partof this disclosure, and in such drawings. like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout all the views of which i Figure 1 is an elevation, certain parts being cut away in order to show the structure more clearly. Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the parts in another position. Fig.

3 is a cross-section taken substantially on the line AA of Fig. 1.

Referring now to Fig. 2 of the drawings, there is diagrammatically indicated at 1 an internal combustion engine. upon the crank shaft 2 of which is fixed thefly wheel 3 )rovided with the spur gear 4. It may here e noted that the term gear is used throughout in a broad sense to comprehend a power transmitting device, either of the toothed or frictional type. stantially parallel with crank shaft 2 is an electric motor 5. the shaft of which'is extended and provided with a rounded portion 6 and a squared or angular portion '7. In order that the electrical connections may be clear. the commutator of the motor is diagrammatically indicated at 8 and from one of the terminals a conductor 9v leads through the series field 10 to a stationary contact block 11. The-remaining terminal is provided with a conductor leading through a. battery 12. preferably of the storage or secondary type. and thence to the stationary contact 13. These contacts are normally open-circuited. but a bridge contact member 1% is mountedupon the rod which passes through a guide 16 and terminates in a foot pedal or other desired actuating member 17. This rod 15 is normally with drawn or retracted by the coiled spring 18 confined between the member 17 and guide 16. but upon being urged toward the left, (referring to Fi 2 of the drawings), ittakes the position shown in Fig. 1 in which contact blocks 11 and 13 are short-circuited by the member 14. and current is thus led bythe commutator 8 through the motor 5, causing the starting of the latter. Positioned upon the shaft portion 6 for rotary as well as sliding movement thereon. is a gear or pinion 19. the teeth of which are adapted to come into mesh with the teeth of gear 1 and cause a power transmitting connection between these members. A hub or extension 20 of gear 19 is exteriorly threaded at 21 to coact with an interior thread upon a sleeve 22 which has a sliding connection with the portion 7 of the shaft. its movement being limited as by stop-collar This sleeve 22, due to its fitting the squared portion of the shaft at 24. is forced to turn in either direc tion with the motor armature. It may here be noted that many of the advantages of this invention may be achieved in a construction in which a counter-shaft is employed instead of mounting these parts directly upon the armature shaft. although the form of apparatus here shown is preferable. Sleeve Disposed sub- 22 is provided with a groove 25 in which is fitted a fork 26, the hub portion 2? of whlch is pinned to rod 15 at 28. It is to be noted- .ing the parts to restin their normal position. shown in ig. 2 of the drawings. with suitable cushiomng members or gaskets provided at.29 and 30, if it be desired to start the engine 1 the rod 15 is thrown toward the left as by pressure of the foot upon member 17. Unless the teeth of the two gears abut precisely end to end, the likelihood of which is lessened by rounding and pointing the meeting ends of the teeth upon the respective members, the pinion 19 will pass into full mesh with the gear L It is likely that in this action there may occur some minute swinging of the gear 19 in one or the other direction to cause meshing. but this movement is readily permitted by the construction shown, Assuming that the gears have come into complete mesh, the circuit is completed through the motor and the latter im mediately rotates sleeve 22. the direction of motion being such as to throw the member 19 more tightly into position and to turn over the fly wheel 3. cranking the engine 1. If, now, the engine be'started, the threaded connection is such, noting that in Fig. 1 of the drawings the far side of the threaded member is indicated, that pinion 19 instantly unscrews itself from sleeve 22 and throws itself out of mesh. In order that this action may be the more readily understood, arrowsare shown upon Fig. 1 of the drawings indicating the directions of rotation of the armature shaft and the gear 4 in the cranln'ng of the engine. The unscrewing action 1s, of course, due to the tendency of theengine to drive the pinion 19 faster than the rate of rotation of the sleeve 22 when the. latter reaches its maximum speed. The movement of the pinion 19 is cushioned, both at 29 and 30, so that its action is substantially noiseless and when it has been thrown out of engagement, as above described. the rod 15 is released, whereupon spring 18 not only retracts the rod, breaking the circuit of the motor, but forces the sleeve 22. to again thread itself upon the extension 20 of the pinion 19 and thus brings the parts into the normal inoperative position indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

' vention are achieved.

Assuming in the above action that the teeth meet precisely end to end. with the pinion 21 in the position indicated by the dotted line 31 in Fig. 1 of the drawings, a continned pressure upon the member 17 causes the sleeve :22 to tend to unscrew itself from the portion 20. giving a slight rotary impulse to the armature of the motor 5. If the teeth still hold in abutting position, the

slightest relief upon the member 17 will permit the pinion 19 to partake to a slightextent of the rotation of the armature shaft. Upon pressure of member 17 being again applied. the pinion 19 will have made some sli ht rotarv movement. occu vin a C l C ing position as first above described. It will thus be seen that there is provided apparatus in which the several objects of thisin- As'many changes'might be made in the above construction, and as many apparently dilferent: embodiments might be made of this invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that 'all features herein described or shown inthe accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus revealed this invention. I claim as new and desire to secure the following combination of elements, or equivalents thereof, by Letters Patent of the United States r 1. In apparatus of the class described. in combination, an internal combustion engine, an electric motor, a gear coimected with said engine. a gear mounted to be moved into mesh therewith, a. member connected with said electric motor, means adapted to move said member to bring said second gear into mesh with said first gear, a connection between said second gear and said member adapted to cause said second gear to move away from said member, out of mesh with. said first gear, by the starting-of said engine. Means comprising an electric switch adapted to lead current to said motor, and means actuated upon movement of said member adapted to close said switch.

2. In apparatus of the class described. in

combination. an internal combustion engine. an electric motor, a gear connected with said engine. a gearmounted to be moved into mesh therewith, a member connected with said electric motor, means adapted to move said member bodily to bring said second gear into mesh with said first gear, and a connection between said second gear and said member adapted to cause said second gear to move out; of mesh with said first gear by the starting of-said engine.

3. In apparatus of the clam described, in combination, an internal combustion engine. a source of power, a gear connected with said engine. a gear mounted to be moved into mesh therewith. a member connected with said source of power, means adapted to move said member bodily to bring said second gear into mesh with said first gear, a connection between said second gear and said member adapted to cause said second gear to move out of mesh with said first gear by the starting of said engine. and a spring tending to retract said member and adapted to throw said second gear out of mesh with said first gear.

4. In apparatus of the class described. in combination. an internal combustion engine, an electric motor. a gear connected with said engine. a gear mounted to be moved into mesh therewith, a member connected with said electric motor and having a threaded connection with mid second gear, and means adapted to move said member bodilv: to

'bring said second gear'into mesh with said first gear. slid threaded connection being shaped to tend to move mid second gear out of mesh with said first gear as it is driven thereby upon the starting of the engine and said second gear being free to move with respect to said member in said unmeshing direction.

5. In apparatus of the class described. in combination. an internal combufiion engine, an electric motor. a gear connected with said engine. a gear molmted to be moved into mesh therewith. a member connected with said electric motor and having a threaded connection with said second gear. and means adapted to move said member to bring said second gear from normal position into mesh with said first gear. the threads of said connection being inclined les than 5 with a.

plane transverseto the axis of the member and formed to adapt said second gear to be moved out of mesh with said first gear as it is driven therebv upon the engine being started.

6. In apparatus of the cla$ described. in combination. an internal combustion engine, a source of power. a gear connected with said engine. a gear molmted to be moved into mesh therewith. a bodily movable member connected with slid source of power and having a threaded connection with said second gear, aid connection being adapted to cause said second gear to move out of mesh with said first gear by the starting of said engine. means adapted to move said member bodily to bring said gears into mesh. and spring-actuated means adapted to retract said member.

V 7. In apparatus of the clam described. in combination. an internal combustion engine. a source of power. a gear connected with said engine, a gear moimted to be moved into mesh therewith. a member connected with said source of power and having Slld second gear threaded thereon and normally occupying a predetermined position thereon. means adapted to move said member to carry said second gear into mesh with said first gear. and a single spring adapted to move said second gear out of mesh and thereupon to move said second gear and said member into said normal relative position. i

8. In apparatus of the class described. in combination. an internal-combustion engine. an electric motor. a pair of normally disengaged gears one of which is connected with said engine. a member upon which the other of said gears is mounted to permit relative rotary movement said member being con nected with said motor, and a single spring adapted to urge said second gear out of mesh and to cause relative rotary movement of said member and said second gear.

9. In apparatus of the class described. in combination. an internal combustion engine, an electric motor. a pair of normally disengaged gears one of which is connected with said engine, a member connected with slid motor to turn therewith in either direction and having a threaded connection with said second gear. and means adapted to move said member to carry thereby said second gear from its normal disengaged position into mesh with said gear upon said engine.

10. In apparatus of the clas described. in combination. an internal combustion engine. an electric motor. a gear connected with said engine. a gear mounted to be moved into mesh therewith and provided with a threaded part connected therewith. a member driven from said motor and provided with an internal thread within which said part is fitted. means comprising an electric switch adapted to lead current to said motor and means adapted to move member to carry said second gear from its normal disengaged position into mesh with saidfirst gear and to close said switch.

11- In apparatus of the clas described, in combination, an internal combustion engine, a source of power, a gear connected with said engine. a gear mounted to be moved into mesh therewith and provided with-a threaded part connected therewith, a mem ber provided with an internalthread within which said part is fitted. means adapted to move said member to carry said second gear from its normal disengaged position into mesh with said first gear. and a single adapted to move said second gear out of mesh with said first gear and toward said member.

. 12. In apparatus of the class described. in combination. an internal combustion engine. a gear connected with said engine. an electric motor, a shaft driven from said motor substantially parallel with the crank shaftof said engine, a member slidably mounted upon said shaft and connected to rotate therewith. and a pinion threaded upon the end of said member toward said motor and positioned to be moved bv said member into mesh with said gear upon said engine.

13. In apparatus of the class described. in combination. an internal combustion engine. a gearconnected with said engine. an electric motor. a shaft driven from said motor substantially parallel with the crank shaft of said engine. a member slidablv mounted upon said shaft and connected to rotate therewith. means comprising an electric switch adapted to lead current to said motor. and a pinion threaded upon the end of said member toward said motor and positioned to be moved by said member into mesh with said gear upon said engine. said member being provided with a recess and having said threaded connection formed in the walls of said recess and said switch being automaticallv closed upon said pinion entering into mesh with said gear.

14. In apparatus of the class described. in combination. an internal combustion engine. an electric motor. a pair of normally disengaged gears. one of which is connected with said engine. a member connected with said motor. a connection between the other of said gears and said member adapted upon said engine starting with said gears in mesh, automatically to move said second gear out of mesh by a rotary movement relative to said member, and a single spring adapted to move said second gear out of mesh and to cause said relative rotary movement of said member and said second gear.

15. In apparatus of the class described. in combination. an internal combustion engine. an electric motor. a gear connected with said engine. a shaftdriven from said motor, an internally threaded member driven from said shaft at a point remote from said motor. a pinion mountednpon said shaft and having an externally threaded extension connected with the internal thread of said first member. said pinion being mounted upon said shaft between said motor and the point of drive of said first member, and means adapted to more said pinion into mesh with said gear.

16. In apparatus of the class described, in combination. an internal combustion engine, an electric motor, a gear connected with said engine, a gear mounted to be moved into mesh therewith, a member con nected with said electric motor to turn there with in either direction and having a. threaded connection with said secondgear, and means adapted to move said membertob'ring said second gear into mesh with said first gear, said threaded connection being shaped to tend to move said second gear out of mesh with said first gear as it is driven thereby upon the starting of the engine and said second gear being free to move with respect to said member in said unmeshing direction.

17. In apparatus of the claSs described, in combination, an internal combustion engine, a source of power, a gear connected with said engine. a gear mounted to be moved into mesh therewith. a member connected with said source of power and having an internally threaded connection with said second gear. and means adapted to move said member to bring said second gear into mesh with said first gear. said threaded connection being shaped to tend to move said second gear outof mesh with said first gear as it is driven thereby upon the starting of the engine and said second gear being free to move with respect to said member in said unmeshing direction.

18. In apparatus of the clas described. in combination. an internal combustion engine. a gear connected with said engine. a motor. a shaft driven from said motor substantially parallel with the crank shaft of said engine. a member slidablv mounted upon said shaft and connected to rotate therewith. and a pinion threaded upon the end of said member toward said motor and positioned to be moved by said member into mesh with said gear upon said engine. said threaded connection being formed to move said pinion out of mesh with said gear by the starting of said engine.

19. In apparatus of the class described. in combination. an internal combustion engine. a source of power. a gear connected with said engine. agear mounted to be moved into mesh therewith. a member connected with said source of power and having at its end toward said source of power said second gear threaded thereon and normally occupying a predetermined position thereon. means adapted to move said member to carry said second gear into mesh with said first gear. and a single spring urging said second gear out of mesh and adapted to move said second gear and said member into said normal relative position, said threaded connection being adapted to cause said second gear to be moved out of mesh by the starting of said engine.

'20. In apparatus of the clas described. in combination, an internal combustion engine, a source of power, a gear connected with said engine, a gear mounted to be moved into mesh therewith, a. member connected withsaid source of power and having at its end toward said source of power said second gear internally threaded thereon and normally occupying a predetermined posit-ion thereon, means adapted -to move said member to carry said second gear into mesh with said first gear. and a single spring urging said second gear outof mesh and adapted to move said second gear and said member into sald normal relative positlon, sald threaded connect-ion bemgadapted to cause said second gear to be moved out of mesh 10 by the starting of said engine.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name as attested by the two subscribingwitnesses.

JOSEPH BIJUR.

Witnesses:

M. J. COOPER, R. S. BLAIR. 

